Romola Garai

"I date nothing but older men. I've reached a stage in my life where I've started to worry whether it's a fetish or not.” - Romola Garai

Any guy strong enough to survive Atonement’s 123 minutes of melodrama and frilly dresses will recognize Romola Garai as the actress who played the 18-year-old version of Briony Tallis. To the other 99.98% of us, this smart, sexy blonde will soon be one of the world’s best actresses (or at least the one with the strangest name).

SEX APPEAL

If you like curvy blondes with porcelain skin and eyes of the bluest sky, this young lady is perfect for you. And if you don’t like curvy blondes with pure skin and blue eyes, give your head a shake.

Romola Garai has the perfect combination of innocence and sassiness, not to mention brains, drive, an exploding career, a nicely padded bank account, and she can play the violin. The only thing this Hong Kong native is lacking is a charming, handsome man to make her truly happy. We humbly volunteer for that role.

SUCCESS

Admittedly, smart, beautiful blondes from wealthy families might have a bit of an inherent advantage in our society. However, rather than rest on her genetically appointed laurels, Romola Garai has worked tirelessly to shatter stereotypes and rise above the spoiled bimbo persona shared by many in her position.

Her hard work is paying off, with critically acclaimed roles in movies like Atonement, Vanity Fair (2004) and Scoop (2006), alongside Scarlett Johansson. Not bad from a little girl born in the wealthy enclave of Hong Kong and raised in the finest boarding schools in the UK.

Romola Garai Biography

If life is a genetic lottery, Romola Garai hit the jackpot. She was born to a fabulously wealthy bank executive and journalist mother in Hong Kong and lived in Singapore until the age of 10. Her name is a feminine version of the popular Italian name Romulus. (Sorry, Trekkies -- it has nothing to do with the Romulans.)

She attended the finest private schools in England where she first got her taste of drama. So taken with acting was the cherub-faced child that she joined the prestigious National Youth Theatre. It was while touring with the NYT that Romola was discovered by an agent and her career really began to blossom.

romola garai in last of the bombshells

That agent cast Romola Garai as a young Judi Dench in the British drama Last of the Bombshells (2000). (It turns out that Dame Judi used to be quite a looker back in the day!) Critics praised her performance, but this smart starlet decided to put off her acting career to attend college. Romola Garai planned on following her mother’s footsteps into journalism.

romola garai gives in to temptation

Studying at university is hard enough without offers for good-paying acting jobs pouring in as a distraction. It eventually became too much for even her, and Romola Garai deferred her studies to focus her attention on acting.

British audiences began seeing the 5’ 9” actress in movies like Nicholas Nickleby (2002) and I Captured the Castle (2003). She began popping up on the North American side of the Atlantic in 2004, starring in Vanity Fair with Reese Witherspoon and Amazing Grace (2006).

romola garai in atonement

It soon became clear to audiences and casting directors alike that Romola Garai was not just another pretty blonde looking to make a quick buck. She was serious about the art and demanded challenging roles in serious movies.

Romola Garai got just that with 2007’s Atonement. This story of love and redemption set against the horror of World War One was painfully slow and boring, but anyone with a clue could see Romola Garai shine. The film was nominated for a slew of awards, and Hollywood took notice of a new rising star.

It hasn’t always been big budgets and critical praise, with duds like Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights and forgettable TV movies also appearing on her resume. However, with roles in movies like The Other Man costarring Liam Neeson and Laura Linney, King Lear and Flying Into Love on the horizon, those days definitely seem to be behind her now.